The Rutherford Bench, classic "Cabernet Country" also turns out to be a pretty splendid place to grow and make Zinfandel. Our 2005 wine shines with all of the sumptuous, berry-forwarded aromas and spicy, black pepper, white-pepper flavors one would hope for in a Zinfandel. We picked the eight acres of 34 year-old, dry farmed vineyard on six dates and fermented in one-ton bins. A few lots were allowed to ferment spontaneously ( a process this vineyard loves). All of the wines were aged for 15 months in 50% new oak -- largely French but with a handful of American barrels. 500 cases made.

  This wine, a most spirited and fruit-forward Zin, represents a collaboration between three winemakers:  Ashley Heisey, Rudy Zuidema, and Julie Johnson. Highly rated for its elegance (90 pts R Parker), it’s an up-tempo composition of twenty barrels from the home ranch Zinfandel, 35 years ‘young’. Estate, Certified Organically grown.